Chain connecter



Jan. 4, 1938. v O w 2,104,193

CHAIN CONNECTER Filed Jan. 22, 19:57

- IINII/ENTOR.

BY$M

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHAIN GONNECTER Oscar Gerwig, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application January 22, 1937, Serial No. 121,775

4 Claims.

This invention relates toimprovements in connecting devices for chains and more particularly to anti-skid chains such as are applied to tires of motor vehicles to prevent skidding.

As is well known, anti-skid chains are commonly composed of two side members or chains which extend circumferentially of the wheel on opposite sides of the tire and which are linked together at intervals by transverse cross-chains which extend over the threadof the tire. The free ends of each of said side chains are provided with a connecting device which is adapted to be quickly opened or securely locked without the aid of tools.

15 One of the main objects of the present invention is to provide an arrangement by which sidechains of anti-skid chains may be more easily connected or disconnected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 20 side-chain connecter which will effect a more secure joinder of its free ends without chance of their becoming opened accidentally.

A further object of the invention is to provide a connecter of the class specified in which the hook- 25 retaining element may be readily replaced without disconnecting the attachment link of the free end of the side-chain.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connecter of the type specified which is 30 very simple in construction, very eificient for the purpose specified constituted by a minimum number of parts and economical to manufacture.

The above and other features of the invention will become apparent as the detailed description 35 thereof proceeds and are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device for connecting the ends of a side-chain, showing the 40 members in locked position, the flexible sleeve member being in section.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top view of the hook-member as used in my invention.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the flexible sleeve member along line 55 in Figure 6.

Figure 6 is an outline viewof Figure 5, and 50 Figure '7 is an end view of Figure 6.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration and description, it will be noted that my improved chain connecter comprises only two parts, a hook-member I and a flexible 55 sleeve-member II, the former of which comprising a metal bar of substantially rectangular crosssection, having a hook-like extension l2 adapted to attach one of the end links l3 of a side-chain M, and the opposite end of said hook-member Ill being provided with an aperture IE to permanent- 1y receive an end link l6 of said side-chain Hi. The upper edge I l of said hook-member I0 is also provided with an elongated rectangular recess i 8, the purpose of which will be described later.

As detailed in Figures 5, 6 and 7, the flexible 1Q sleeve-member, made from soft rubber or any other suitable material, comprises an annular body l9 having a reduced extension 25, said body l9 being provided with a bore 2|, said extension being provided with a reduced bore 22, as shown.

The depth of said bore 2! should correspond to approximately the portion of the hook-member II] which extends from the beak 23 of the hook portion to the edge 24 of the recess 18 (Figures 1 and 4), as shown. The length of the bore 22 of the reduced extension 20 of said sleeve-member II should correspond to the length of the recess l8 of the hook-member ill. The bottom edge 25 of said recess I8 is slightly rounded to approximately conform to the curvature of the bore 22. 25

Figure 1 illustrates the assembled position of the hook-member In in the flexible sleeve-member H, and this is readily accomplished by forcing the hook-end of said hook-member I0 through the bore 22 of extension 20, by doing this the latter will temporarily assume a distorted shape until the recess [8 interlocks with the ends '26 and 21 of the extension 20; when in that position the latter again assumes its normal annular contour.

As is well known, a non-skid chain for vehicle tires is provided with a pair of side-chains which extend circumferentially of the wheel on opposite sides of the tire and they are suitably connected at intervals with cross-links (not shown). 40

To join the free ends 28 and 29 of side-chain [4, link I6 of free end 29 is permanently secured to the hook-member ID in a usual manner, and in order to connect end-link it of side-chain I4 to the hook-member ID the same is manipulated through the bore 2| and over the hook-extension l2 by slightly compressing with two fingers the end I 9 of the flexible sleeve member H; as the pressure is released, end l9 again assumes its normal shape. Both free ends 28 and 29 are now securely connected and, due to the fact that the entrant-slot 30 of the hook-member Ill being blocked by the wall of the bore of body I9 of sleeve-member ll, an accidental disengagement 5 of link I 3 under any normal strain likely to ocour in usage is prevented.

By manually pushing and at the same time turning the end-link I3 of side-chain M, the link l3 may be readily disengaged from the hookmember Ill, when so desired.

To prevent damaging the interior of the sleeve member I l the marginal edges of the hook-member it) may be slightly rounded.

In carrying theinvention into effect the gap 3! between the top of the hook-extension i2 and the bore 2! of the sleeve-member i i should be reduced to a minimum. 7

It will thus be seen that my invention provides an extremely simple, yet eflicient, device,which.- serves to permit ready connection or di sconnec:.

tion of the free ends of a side-chain and it is to be understood also that the general contour of the hook-member as well as the contour of the flexible sleeve-member may be varied as found suitable in particular embodiment of the invention, and others, which need not be described or illustrated, fall within the scope of the invention.

Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim: 7

1. In a chain connecter of the class described, a hook-member comprising a hook at one end for detachably securing thereto a link of one end of a chain and a shank-member having at the outer end means for permanently attaching thereto a link of the other end of a chain; a pli able. sleeve-member cored to two diameters, the larger core enclosing said hook and the smaller core enclosing part of said shank-member, and means to hold said sleeve-member on saidhookmember.

2. In a chain connecter of the class described, a fiat metallic hook-member comprising a hook at one end for detachably attaching thereto a link of one end of a chain, a shank-member comprising a wide outerportion having a reduced part intermediate said outer portion and said hook, means positioned at the outer portion of said shank to permanently secure thereto a link of the other end of said chain, a pliable sleevemember cored to two diameters, the large core enclosing said hook and the smaller core enclosing the reduced portion of said shank, and means to hold said sleeve-member on said hook member.

3. In a chain connecter of the class described, a fiat metallic hook-member comprising a hook at one end for detachably attaching thereto a link of one end of a chain, a shank-member comprising a wide outer portion having a reduced part intermediate said outer portion and said hook, means positioned at the outer portion of said shank to permanently secure thereto a link of the other end of said chain, a pliable sleevememberrcoredto two abruptly defined diameters, the large core enclosing said hook and the smaller core enclosing the reduced portion of said shank, and means to hold said sleeve-member on said hook-member.

4. In a chain connecter of the class described, a flat metallic hook-member comprising a hook at one end for detachably attaching thereto a link of one end of a chain, a shank-member comprising a wide outer portion having a reduced part intermediate said outer portion and said hook, means positioned at the outer portion or said shank to permanently secure thereto a link of the other end of said chain, a pliable sleevemember cored to two abruptly defined diameters, the larger core enveloping said hook and the smaller core enclosing the reduced portion of said shank, said hook-member having two abutments positioned rearwardly of said hook, one adapted to engage the shoulder defined by said two cores and the other one adapted to engage the outside face of the sleeve-member to hold said sleevemember on said hook-member.

OSCAR L. GERWIG. 

